The Star Online

For a bird’s eye view of Putrajaya

The Kedah balloon (left) , flown by local balloonist Sobri, and the two Willy balloons both piloted by Belgian pilots, Audenaert and Jonas Van Doorsselaere

“DON’T worry, the weather is beautiful and calm and you are in safe hands,” said one of the pilots-in-command, Captain Filip Audenaert looking relaxed and jovial.

His assuring and laid-back yet alert and attentive attitude, is the perfect remedy to ease any passenger’s worry.

At an exclusive media launch event that took place in Putrajaya, several people were given the opportunity to experience an unforgettable hot air balloon ride, organised by MyBalloon Adventure, the first and only commercial hot air balloon company in the country.

(The passengers flown by Audenaert in his 10-passenger basket enjoying an unbelievable aerial view of Putrajaya.)

It is 6.15am and the team of pilots and crew members start to unload three hot air balloons from their trailer and truck, ready for set-up and preparation.

It only takes the experienced crew a mere 45 minutes to have the balloons upright and ready to go; ready to fly the passengers for an experience of a lifetime.

Adhering to very strict guidelines, the pilots of MyBalloon Adventure radios the Department of Civil Aviation every single time a flight takes off.

“This ensures that the Department of Civil Aviation is aware of our presence in the sky.

“This is a must-do safety measure for us here at MyBalloon Adventure,” assured Captain Sobri Saad.

As the balloons begin to ascend above Putrajaya, the passengers are greeted with a beautiful sunrise.

As the ground below continues to get farther away, all the passengers can hear is the occasional sounds of the on-board gas cylinders which are used to keep the balloon afloat.

In the distance, one can see the Twin Towers and not too far from there, the KL Tower.

For the many passengers on flight, the experience is a “first”.

For the three pilots of MyBalloon Adventure, this is part of their daily routine and this is their “office in the sky”.

With more than 20 years of ballooning experience and thousands of flying hours under their belts, passengers would be rest assured that they are in the good hands of the FAA-certified hot air balloon pilots.

“Weather plays such a crucial role in the success of every hot air balloon flight.

“No flights are ever the same and it is this uncertainty that drives our passion,” said Kedah-born experienced hot air balloon pilot and MyBalloon Adventure chief executive officer Captain Sobri.

Weather permitting, MyBalloon Adventure operates daily. It is the only company in Malaysia to have received an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) from the Department of Civil Aviation and the only active ballooning experience company in the country.

“Once you are up in the sky, the feeling is more therapeutic than ‘edge-of-your-seat’,” shares one of the passengers.

As the balloons glide and soar gracefully in the sky, the passengers are seen taking plenty of picture-perfect moments; taking in the stunning views from 150m in the sky.

As the balloons glide lower during the flight, they not only brush the tops of trees, but also hover a couple of metres above the beautiful serene Putrajaya Lake.

After 45 minutes in the air, the balloons begin their descent to their safe landing places.

Within a few minutes, the balloons come to a halt and the crew members quickly deflate the balloons before safely disembarking all the passengers.

Following the flight, with feet firmly on the ground, the passengers participate in the packing up of the balloons before being welcomed with refreshing cold towels, bottles of mineral water and the traditional, post-flight celebratory balloon fliers’ toast.

MyBalloon Adventure offers bespoke ballooning experiences starting from RM850, which includes a breathtaking 45-minute to 1 hour balloon flight conducted by their vastly-experienced FAA-certified hot air balloon pilots; light pre-flight refreshments; a delicious breakfast line-up post-flight and a completion certificate to top off the experience.

For passengers looking to pop the question to a loved one up in the sky or raise a toast with colleagues in mid-air, MyBalloon Adventure can make it happen.